April 13, 2006

PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- Providence College men's basketball coach Tim Welsh announced on April 13 that student-athletes Ray Hall (Denver, Colo.) and Brian Rudolph (New Bedford, Mass.) each have signed a National Letter of Intent to attend Providence College beginning in September 2006.

Hall, a 6-foot-11-inch, 260-pound center, recently finished his senior season at Mullen High School in Denver, Colo. Hall averaged 18 points and 9.5 rebounds and helped lead Mullen to the Class 5A title. In the championship game, Hall scored 14 points and grabbed nine rebounds in a 54-40 win over Cherry Creek. For his efforts, the four-year starter was named Tournament MVP by the Rocky Mountain News. Hall also was named First Team All-State by the Rocky Mountain News and he earned All-Colorado honors from The Denver Post.

Rudolph, a 5-foot-10-inch, 170-pound guard, is in his final year at New Bedford High School. A three-time All-Conference honoree, Rudolph had a sensational senior season, averaging 23.9 points and 10.1 assists per game. For his efforts, he was named to the Boston Globe All-Scholastic Team and received Boston Herald Dream Team honors. Rudolph also received the Dave Cowens Achievement Award, which is presented annually to the area's outstanding senior player. He is the only player in the history of New Bedford High School to score 1,200 points and record 600 assists and 200 steals. In three seasons of varsity basketball at New Bedford, he scored 20 or more points 26 times and 30 or more points seven times. In 2006, he helped his team post an 18-5 mark and advance to the state semifinals.

"These two players will improve the competitiveness of our team next season," Welsh said. "Like all the student-athletes we have recruited the last two years, they are winners, they come from winning programs and they have been extremly well coached. Ray (Hall) is a strong, skilled big man who led his team to a state title. Brian (Rudolph) helped bring his team to the state semifinals this year. He is an outstanding guard who looks to pass first and has the ability to get past the defenders. His play will complement some of the productive scorers we have on our team."